Jacobs, Chanderpaul slam centuries in drawn Test

St John's: Ridley Jacobs and Shivnaraine Chanderpaul slammed contrasting centuries in the West Indies' fourth-highest total against India as the fourth Test ended in a tame draw on Tuesday.

Wicket-keeper Jacobs smashed an entertaining career-best 118 and Chanderpaul a painstaking 136 not out to help the West Indies post 629 for nine declared at stumps on the fifth and final day in reply to India's 513 for nine declared. Tail-ender Mervyn Dillon also joined the run-feast against part-time spinners, hitting a 65-ball 43 with the help of two sixes and six fours as India used 11 bowlers in the innings. This was the first time the West Indies had crossed the 600-mark since 1995 when it made 692 for eight declared against England at the Oval. This was also the West Indies' fourth-best total against India in 74 Tests after 644 for eight, 631 for eight and 631. Jacobs, who completed his second Test century in 38 matches with a six over long-on off Venkat Sai Laxman, overshadowed Chanderpaul's third hundred against India in four matches during its 166-run stand for the sixth wicket. Chanderpaul, 80 overnight, batted nearly two hours to score the 20 runs required for his fifth Test hundred. He made just 56 in the day, hitting 17 fours in 675 minutes off 510 balls. The five-Test series is currently tied at 1-1, with India winning the second Test by 37 runs at Port-of-Spain and the West Indies the third by 10 wickets at Bridgetown. Jacobs smashed five sixes and 11 fours in his 206-ball knock, surpassing his previous best of 113 not out against South Africa at Bridgetown last year. Draw was the only result possible on a batsmen-friendly pitch at the Antigua Recreation Ground after the West Indies had avoided a follow-on on the fourth day with a 186-run stand between skipper Carl Hooper and Chanderpaul. India was a bowler short in the absence of leg spinner Anil Kumble, who returned home on Monday for treatment after suffering a jaw-injury while batting in the first innings. India just went through the motions after Jacobs had completed his hundred in the post-lunch session, pressing non-regular bowlers into attack. Sachin Tendulkar bowled 34 overs of spin in the innings, while Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Wasim Jaffer, Shiv Das and wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra shared 46. Jaffer (two for 18), Dravid (one for 18) and Laxman (one for 32) all got their maiden Test wickets. Regular fast bowlers Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan shared only 32 overs in the day. Jacobs, 18 overnight, outscored Chanderpaul with his hard and clean hitting as he scored 59 of the 89 runs scored by his team in the morning session after resuming at 405 for five. Chanderpaul batted extremely slow and reached his hundred just before lunch when he flicked a low full toss from Zaheer to mid-wicket for his 15th four. He then removed his helmet, hugged Jacobs and kissed the pitch to mark the occasion. Chanderpaul also completed 400 runs in this series, having scored 140, one, 67 not out and an unbeaten 101 in the previous three Tests. Jacobs dominated the sixth-wicket stand with his aggressive batting as the Indian bowlers went wicket less on a good batting pitch in the morning. He enlivened the proceedings as he went for his shots early in the day to put the Indian attack to the sword. He swung Tendulkar over mid-wicket and then hoisted Nehra over long-on for two huge sixes. He also punished Srinath, steering through slips and driving through the covers for two fours in an over. He reached his half-century in the bowler's next over with a brace to the covers.